Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien: “Myth and fairy‑story must, as all art, reflect and contain in solution moral or religious truth.”

Tolkien here articulates his belief that even fantastical narratives should carry deeper meaning, mirroring real-world ethics and spiritual insights. He posits art as a vessel for profound universal truths, not just mere entertainment.

Expressed in a letter during a time when critical literary theory was evolving, Tolkien defended the inherent value and serious purpose of myth and fairy tales against dismissive views, emphasizing their capacity for conveying profound truths.

English writer, poet, philologist, and academic, best known as the author of the high fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He served as the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Oxford.